Door construction



7 April 14, 1931. w CUFFE 1,801,190

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnvenfo'o EWEUffE April 14, 1931.

F. w. CUFFE DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1928 J 14 E UFFE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE I FBEDEBIGF WILLIAM QUITE, OF WAYNESBOBO, VIRGINIA, A SSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO EDISON GENERAL ELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, INC CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 20, 1928. Serial Il'o. 286,883. I

This invention relates to a spring and door construction and to be used more par- .ticularly in connection with oven doors.

frame to which is integrally connected an arm so that the strain and stress of opening thedoor will be carried by the frame and the enameled surface and back piece which are formed separately. are relieved of this strain, thereby saving the enameled surface.

In this construction of a door to be used in connection with an oven, there are certain problems which must be taken into consideration. .It is highly desirable that a ,close contact be made at all times while the door is in closed position and further, to present a construction which will as far as possible,

prevent the warping and sagging of the door frame. Further, where an enameled outer surface is used, it is highly desirable to re- ;lieve the same of any strain as enamel has a tendency to crack and chip ofi when its base is warped, twisted or subjected to strain.

Still, another object is to provide an adjustable feature in connection with tensioning a spring wherein eater or less counter balancing effect may be obtained. The door spring serves more as a counter balance than a spring as upon the door being released, the weight of the door will cause the same to gradually sink until a horizontal position is reached. By using the spring as a counter balance to the weight of the door, and having a plurality of springs, there is no chance for the sudden droppingof the door which often results in the chipping off of the enamel and strainingof the frame.- The door thus connected is very easily manipulated so that when it is desired to close the door only a very slight eifort need be exerted.

Other objects will be disclosed in the specification and drawings.

In His drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the door in place;

Fi ure 2 is a section taken along line 22 of F1 re 1, showin a spring and arm attache to the door rame;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan showing the springs in position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section-corresponding to Figure 2 showing the oven door in open horizontal position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section showing the method of mounting the cor;

Figure 6 is an inside elevation with one cover broken away to show the frame construction of the oven door;

Figure 7 is a top view of the door with parts brokenaway;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the oven door frame removed to show its construction; and

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings Numeral 1 designates an oven door consisting of an enameled cover plate 2, a back plate 3, and a frame 4 enclosed within the back and front members 2 and 3. In order to get the greatest rigidity, the frame 4 is formed of U-shaped side members 5, rivetedly connected to a cross member 6 at the to and secured at the bottom to a cross bar 7 y way of a triangular brace plate 8 which carries as an integral part thereof arms 9. By having the side members 5 formed of U-shaped members, and the bottom cross member closely adjacent and both secured in place by the brace plate 8 which forms an integral part of the arm, 9, very rigid construction is obtained. By mounting the hinges 10 on the brace plate 8, all strain is removed from the front and rear plates altogether. The arm 9 has a stop member 11 in the form of a shoulder which limits the downward movement of the frame 4. The

The leaf spring 12 is secured to a supporting structure 15 at 16 with substantially the entire curve occurring at this secured end, and within a compartment formed by a partition 17 having an opening-18 to allow easy removal of the spring and at the same time prevent an upward movement. Attached to the bottom of the brace plate 8 are hinges 10 which may be inserted through openings 19 in supporting structure 15 and secured in place by means of screws 20.

The back plate 3 which has a flange 21 and a receding back wall 22 is thus madein order to provide as perfect and tight a fit as ossible upon the oven door being closed.

t the top of the oven door, carried by the top cross member 6 is a combined handle and locking means 23. This member has a handle 24, and is pivoted at 25 so that when a' downward pressure is exerted on the handle 24, the opposite end 26 is forced into a metal clip 27, thus forcing the inner face of the door against the oven 28. By securing the combined handle and locking-means to the cross member6, the strain which results from forcing the oven door against the face of the oven 28 is borne by the frame 4 and not by the outside cover 2, thus preventing the then be connected up to the two flat springs sudden dropping of the door.

12. The oven door as a whole would then be raised slightly and opened approximately ten degrees. The hinges 10 would then be inserted in the openings 19 and the whole secured in place by means of screws 20.

By pullingup on handle 24, the door l'is free to swing down and because of the counter balance effect of springs 12, there is no danger of a'sudden jolt or jar due to the the tension of the spring and weight of the door is such that the door will normally seek a horizontal osition, but due to the fact that dishes are 0 en placed on the open door, a stop 11 in the form of a shoulder will pre vent the door from being "forced below the horizontal position. I

When itis desired to raise the door, because of'the near balance of the weight of the door and the counter balance effect of the springs, the door will with very little effort on the part ofthe operator-be restored to a closed position. The operator by lifting up on the handle 24 and pushing inwardly on the door and then .pushing down on handle 24 when end 26 is beneath the spring clip 27, will force the inner surface of door 1 snugly against the face of the oven, and thus procure avery snug fit which prevents the escape ofheat from the oven.

Ordinarily and 2, respectively, formed separately from the door frame 4 all strain is removed fromv of chipping of the enamel on the front piece 2 reduced to a minimum. 'The usual packing 29 is placedbetween the front and back pieces around the frame member, the front piece 2 overlaps the back piece 3, and the two are secured together by screws 30. These screws do not pass into the frame 4, but merely serve to hold the front and back pieces 2 and 3 together.

The back piece 3 is secured to the U-sha ed side members 5 by means of screws 31. he back plate 3 can be so secured as it has no enamel on its outer surface. The front plate 2, which is covered with enamel, must be relieved of allstrain as far as possible, so it is secured at the top by the handle and locking means 23, which is secured to the frame 4 by screws 32. y v

The front piece 2 merely overlaps the back piece 3, and is secured atthe sides and bottom by the screws 30. The hinges 10 are secured to the bottom of brace plate 8 and extend through openings 33 formed in the edges of the front and back plates 2 and 3, respectively, the hinges 10 being free of these plates. From this it is apparent that there will be little or nostrain on the front enamel plate 2 and yet a rigid and strong construction is provided. By the use of two springs, the chances for positive action are greatl increased as. even if one should become bro en or out of. order %m other would sgilil contincllle togdunction. yusingaspringo t etype isc os eater length is obtained thereby reducin g the fiexure per'inch of length to a minimum. This of course-results in a minimum unit stress with a resulting long life. Further, it is highly desirable to prevent unduev heating of the springs and by having them removed and open to circulation, same cannot become overheated which sometimes results in a partial annealing as well as loss of temper.

What I claim" is 1. A door construction comprising a supporting structure, a frame, pivot means connecting the frame to said structure, anarm secured at an angle to said frame, a leaf spring having one end secured to said structure, and having its other'end connected to said arm, said spring acting as a yielding counter balance to said frame.

2. A door construction comprising a supporting structure, a frame pivotally connected to said structure, an arm secured at an angle to said frame, a-leaf spring secured to said structure, means for adjustably connecting said leaf spring to said arm, said arm and spring acting as a yielding counterbalance to said fram 65 By having the back and front pieces 3 3'. Anoven door construction, comprisinga frame, a pair ,of plates covering opposite faces of said frame, said frame comprising a unitary supporting structure independent of said plates and havin one of said plates secured directly to said rame, a handle detach-- ably connected to said frame and clamping the unsecured plate to said frame.

4. An oven door construction, comprising a rectangular frame, a pair of plates covering opposite faces of said plates and having overlapping edges, said frame comprising a unitary supporting structure independent of said plates and having one of said plates secured directly to said frame, means for detachably connecting one of the overlapping edges of one plate to the other plate, and a handle detachably connected to said frame and clamping the unsecured plate to said frame.

5. A door construction comprising a supporting structure, a unitary frame pivotally connected to said structure, front and back pieces detachably secured to said frame, said frame comprising a supporting structure independent of said pieces, means secured to said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said frame and pieces on said structure.

6. A door construction comprising a frame, a pair of brace plates, each brace plate securing one side of said frame to an adjacent end member and an arm extending from each of said brace plates parallel to each other and on one side of said frame.

7. A door construction comprising a frame, a pair of brace plates, each brace plate securing one side of said frame to an adjacent end member, a stop arm extending from each of said brace plates parallel to each other and on one side of said frame.

8. A door construction comprising a rectangular frame having a pair of brace plates,

each brace plate securing one side of said frame to an adjacent end member and a stop arm extending from each of said brace plates parallel to each other and on one side of said rame, and a pair of hinges secured to said plates.

In test-imon whereof I a-fiix my ature. FREDE ICK WILLIAM 0 FE. 

